Difference between revisions of "The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 39: Devadatta"

Latest revision as of 19:15, 31 December 2013

When Devadatta, the son of Suprabuddha and a brother of Yasodhara, became a disciple,
he cherished the hope of attaining the same distinctions and honours as Gotama Siddhattha.
Being disappointed in his ambitions, he conceived in his heart a jealous hatred,
and, attempting to excel the Perfect One in virtue,
he found fault with his regulations and reproved them as too lenient. [1]

Devadatta went to Rajagaha and gained the ear of Ajatasattu, the son of King Bimbisara.
And Ajatasattu built a new vihara for Devadatta,
and founded a sect whose disciples were pledged to severe rules and self-mortification. [2]

Soon afterwards the Blessed One himself came to Rajagaha
and stayed at the Veluvana vihara. [3]

Devadatta called on the Blessed One,
requesting him to sanction his rules of greater stringency,
by which a greater holiness might be procured.
"The body," he said, "consists of its thirty-two parts
and has no divine attributes.
It is conceived in sin and born in corruption.
Its attributes are liability to pain and dissolution, for it is impermanent.
It is the receptacle of karma which is the curse of our former existences;
it is the dwelling-place of sin and deseases
and its organs constantly discharge disgusting secretions.
Its end is death and its goal the charnel house.
Such being the condition of the body
it behooves us to treat it as a carcass full of abomination
and to clothe it in such rags only
as have been gatherd in cemeteries or upon dung-hills." [4]

The Blessed One said:
"Truly, the body is full of impurity and its end is the charnel house,
for it is impermanent and destined to be dissolved into its elements.
But being the receptacle of karma,
it lies in our power to make it a vessel of truth and not of evil.
It is not good to indulge in the pleasures of the body,
but neither is it good to neglect our bodily needs
and to heap filth upon impurities.
The lamp that is not cleansed and not filled with oil will be extinguished,
and a body that is unkept, unwashed, and weakened by penance
will not be a fit receptacle for the light of truth.
Attend to your body and its needs as you would treat a wound
which you care for without loving it.
Severe rules will not lead the disciples on the middle path which I have taught.
Certainly, no one can be prevented from keeping more stringent rules,
if he sees fit to do so, but they should not be imposed upon any one,
for they are unnecessary." [5]

Thus the Tathagata refused Devadatta's proposal;
and Devadatta left the Buddha
and went into the vihara speaking evil of the Lord's path of salvation
as too lenient and altogether insufficient. [6]

When the Blessed One heard of Devadatta's intrigues, he said:
"Among men there is no one who is not blamed.
People blame him who sits silent and him who speaks,
they also blame the man who preaches the middle path." [7]

Devadatta instigated Ajatasattu to plot against his father Bimbisara, the king,
so that the prince would no longer be subject to him;
Bimbisara was imprisoned by his son in a tower where he died
leaving the kingdom of Magadha to his son Ajatasattu. [8]

The new king listened to the evil advice of Devadatta,
and he gave orders to take the life of the Tathagata.
However, the murderers sent out to kill the Lord could not perform their wicked deed,
and became converted as soon as they saw him and listened to his preaching.
The rock hurled down from a precipice upon the great Master split in twain,
and the two pieces passed by on either side without doing any harm.
Nalagiri, the wild elephant let loose to destroy the Lord, became gentle in his presence;
and Ajatasattu, suffering greatly from the pangs of his conscience,
went to the Blessed One and sought peace in his distress. [9]

The Blessed One received Ajatasattu kindly and taught him the way of salvation;
but Devadatta still tried to become the founder of a religious school of his own. [10]

Devadatta did not succeed in his plans
and having been abandoned by many of his disciples, he fell sick, and then repented.
He entreated those who had remained with him to carry his litter to the Buddha, saying:
"Take me, children, take me to him;
though I have done evil to him, I am his brother-in-law.
For the sake of our relationship the Buddha will save me."
And they obeyed, although reluctantly. [11]

And Devadatta in his impatience to see the Blessed One rose from his litter
while his carriers were washing their hands.
But his feet burned under him;
he sank to the ground;
and, having chanted a hymn on the Buddha, died. [12]

Continue Reading

Source

mountainman.com.au

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{DisplayImages|2118|1392|1429|1409|975|1486|45|341|971|397|46}}
-When Devadatta, the son of Suprabuddha and a brother of Yasodhara, became a disciple,<br/>
+When [[Devadatta]], the son of [[Suprabuddha]] and a brother of [[Yasodhara]], became a [[disciple]],<br/>
-he cherished the hope of attaining the same distinctions and honours as Gotama Siddhattha.<br/>
+he cherished the {{Wiki|hope}} of [[attaining]] the same distinctions and honours as [[Gotama]] [[Siddhattha]].<br/>
-Being disappointed in his ambitions, he conceived in his heart a jealous hatred,<br/>
+Being disappointed in his [[ambitions]], he conceived in his [[heart]] a jealous [[hatred]],<br/>
-and, attempting to excel the Perfect One in virtue,<br/>
+and, attempting to excel the [[Perfect One]] in [[virtue]],<br/>
 he found fault with his regulations and reproved them as too lenient. [1]<br/>
 <br/>
-Devadatta went to Rajagaha and gained the ear of Ajatasattu, the son of King Bimbisara.<br/>
+[[Devadatta]] went to [[Rajagaha]] and gained the {{Wiki|ear}} of [[Ajatasattu]], the son of [[King Bimbisara]].<br/>
-And Ajatasattu built a new vihara for Devadatta,<br/>
+And [[Ajatasattu]] built a new [[vihara]] for [[Devadatta]],<br/>
-and founded a sect whose disciples were pledged to severe rules and self-mortification. [2]<br/>
+and founded a sect whose [[disciples]] were pledged to severe rules and [[self-mortification]]. [2]<br/>
 <br/>
-Soon afterwards the Blessed One himself came to Rajagaha<br/>
+Soon afterwards the [[Blessed One]] himself came to [[Rajagaha]]<br/>
-and stayed at the Veluvana vihara. [3]<br/>
+and stayed at the [[Veluvana]] [[vihara]]. [3]<br/>
 <br/>
-Devadatta called on the Blessed One,<br/>
+[[Devadatta]] called on the [[Blessed One]],<br/>
 requesting him to sanction his rules of greater stringency,<br/>
 by which a greater holiness might be procured.<br/>
-"The body," he said, "consists of its thirty-two parts<br/>
+"The [[body]]," he said, "consists of its thirty-two parts<br/>
-and has no divine attributes.<br/>
+and has no [[divine]] [[attributes]].<br/>
-It is conceived in sin and born in corruption.<br/>
+It is conceived in [[sin]] and born in corruption.<br/>
-Its attributes are liability to pain and dissolution, for it is impermanent.<br/>
+Its [[attributes]] are liability to [[pain]] and [[dissolution]], for it is [[impermanent]].<br/>
-It is the receptacle of karma which is the curse of our former existences;<br/>
+It is the receptacle of [[karma]] which is the curse of our former [[existences]];<br/>
-it is the dwelling-place of sin and deseases<br/>
+it is the dwelling-place of [[sin]] and deseases<br/>
-and its organs constantly discharge disgusting secretions.<br/>
+and its organs constantly [[discharge]] disgusting secretions.<br/>
-Its end is death and its goal the charnel house.<br/>
+Its end is [[death]] and its goal the charnel house.<br/>
-Such being the condition of the body<br/>
+Such being the [[condition]] of the [[body]]<br/>
 it behooves us to treat it as a carcass full of abomination<br/>
-and to clothe it in such rags only<br/>
+and to [[clothe]] it in such rags only<br/>
 as have been gatherd in cemeteries or upon dung-hills." [4]<br/>
 <br/>
-The Blessed One said:<br/>
+The [[Blessed One]] said:<br/>
-"Truly, the body is full of impurity and its end is the charnel house,<br/>
+"Truly, the [[body]] is full of [[impurity]] and its end is the charnel house,<br/>
-for it is impermanent and destined to be dissolved into its elements.<br/>
+for it is [[impermanent]] and destined to be dissolved into its [[elements]].<br/>
-But being the receptacle of karma,<br/>
+But being the receptacle of [[karma]],<br/>
-it lies in our power to make it a vessel of truth and not of evil.<br/>
+it lies in our power to make it a vessel of [[truth]] and not of [[evil]].<br/>
-It is not good to indulge in the pleasures of the body,<br/>
+It is not good to indulge in the [[pleasures]] of the [[body]],<br/>
-but neither is it good to neglect our bodily needs<br/>
+but neither is it good to neglect our [[bodily]] needs<br/>
-and to heap filth upon impurities.<br/>
+and to heap filth upon [[impurities]].<br/>
-The lamp that is not cleansed and not filled with oil will be extinguished,<br/>
+The [[lamp]] that is not cleansed and not filled with oil will be [[extinguished]],<br/>
-and a body that is unkept, unwashed, and weakened by penance<br/>
+and a [[body]] that is unkept, unwashed, and weakened by penance<br/>
-will not be a fit receptacle for the light of truth.<br/>
+will not be a fit receptacle for the light of [[truth]].<br/>
-Attend to your body and its needs as you would treat a wound<br/>
+Attend to your [[body]] and its needs as you would treat a wound<br/>
-which you care for without loving it.<br/>
+which you care for without [[loving]] it.<br/>
-Severe rules will not lead the disciples on the middle path which I have taught.<br/>
+Severe rules will not lead the [[disciples]] on the [[middle path]] which I have taught.<br/>
 Certainly, no one can be prevented from keeping more stringent rules,<br/>
 if he sees fit to do so, but they should not be imposed upon any one,<br/>
 for they are unnecessary." [5]<br/>
 <br/>
-Thus the Tathagata refused Devadatta's proposal;<br/>
+Thus the [[Tathagata]] refused Devadatta's proposal;<br/>
-and Devadatta left the Buddha<br/>
+and [[Devadatta]] left the [[Buddha]]<br/>
-and went into the vihara speaking evil of the Lord's path of salvation<br/>
+and went into the [[vihara]] {{Wiki|speaking}} [[evil]] of the Lord's [[path]] of {{Wiki|salvation}}<br/>
 as too lenient and altogether insufficient. [6]<br/>
 <br/>
-When the Blessed One heard of Devadatta's intrigues, he said:<br/>
+When the [[Blessed One]] heard of Devadatta's intrigues, he said:<br/>
 "Among men there is no one who is not blamed.<br/>
-People blame him who sits silent and him who speaks,<br/>
+[[People]] blame him who sits [[silent]] and him who speaks,<br/>
-they also blame the man who preaches the middle path." [7]<br/>
+they also blame the man who preaches the [[middle path]]." [7]<br/>
 <br/>
-Devadatta instigated Ajatasattu to plot against his father Bimbisara, the king,<br/>
+[[Devadatta]] instigated [[Ajatasattu]] to plot against his father [[Bimbisara]], the [[king]],<br/>
-so that the prince would no longer be subject to him;<br/>
+so that the {{Wiki|prince}} would no longer be [[subject]] to him;<br/>
-Bimbisara was imprisoned by his son in a tower where he died<br/>
+[[Bimbisara]] was imprisoned by his son in a tower where he [[died]]<br/>
-leaving the kingdom of Magadha to his son Ajatasattu. [8]<br/>
+leaving the {{Wiki|kingdom}} of [[Magadha]] to his son [[Ajatasattu]]. [8]<br/>
 <br/>
-The new king listened to the evil advice of Devadatta,<br/>
+The new [[king]] listened to the [[evil]] advice of [[Devadatta]],<br/>
-and he gave orders to take the life of the Tathagata.<br/>
+and he gave orders to take the [[life]] of the [[Tathagata]].<br/>
-However, the murderers sent out to kill the Lord could not perform their wicked deed,<br/>
+However, the murderers sent out to kill the [[Lord]] could not perform their wicked [[deed]],<br/>
 and became converted as soon as they saw him and listened to his preaching.<br/>
-The rock hurled down from a precipice upon the great Master split in twain,<br/>
+The rock hurled down from a precipice upon the great [[Master]] split in twain,<br/>
 and the two pieces passed by on either side without doing any harm.<br/>
-Nalagiri, the wild elephant let loose to destroy the Lord, became gentle in his presence;<br/>
+[[Nalagiri]], the wild [[elephant]] let loose to destroy the [[Lord]], became gentle in his presence;<br/>
-and Ajatasattu, suffering greatly from the pangs of his conscience,<br/>
+and [[Ajatasattu]], [[suffering]] greatly from the pangs of his {{Wiki|conscience}},<br/>
-went to the Blessed One and sought peace in his distress. [9]<br/>
+went to the [[Blessed One]] and sought [[peace]] in his {{Wiki|distress}}. [9]<br/>
 <br/>
-The Blessed One received Ajatasattu kindly and taught him the way of salvation;<br/>
+The [[Blessed One]] received [[Ajatasattu]] kindly and taught him the way of {{Wiki|salvation}};<br/>
-but Devadatta still tried to become the founder of a religious school of his own. [10]<br/>
+but [[Devadatta]] still tried to become the founder of a [[religious]] school of his own. [10]<br/>
 <br/>
-Devadatta did not succeed in his plans<br/>
+[[Devadatta]] did not succeed in his plans<br/>
-and having been abandoned by many of his disciples, he fell sick, and then repented.<br/>
+and having been abandoned by many of his [[disciples]], he fell sick, and then repented.<br/>
-He entreated those who had remained with him to carry his litter to the Buddha, saying:<br/>
+He entreated those who had remained with him to carry his litter to the [[Buddha]], saying:<br/>
 "Take me, children, take me to him;<br/>
-though I have done evil to him, I am his brother-in-law.<br/>
+though I have done [[evil]] to him, I am his brother-in-law.<br/>
-For the sake of our relationship the Buddha will save me."<br/>
+For the sake of our relationship the [[Buddha]] will save me."<br/>
 And they obeyed, although reluctantly. [11]<br/>
 <br/>
-And Devadatta in his impatience to see the Blessed One rose from his litter<br/>
+And [[Devadatta]] in his impatience to see the [[Blessed One]] rose from his litter<br/>
 while his carriers were washing their hands.<br/>
 But his feet burned under him;<br/>
 he sank to the ground;<br/>
-and, having chanted a hymn on the Buddha, died. [12]<br/>
+and, having chanted a hymn on the [[Buddha]], [[died]]. [12]<br/>
 {{The Gospel of Buddha}}

Difference between revisions of "The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 39: Devadatta"

Latest revision as of 19:15, 31 December 2013

Continue Reading

Source

Navigation menu

Personal tools

Namespaces

Variants

Views

More

Search

Navigation

Categories

Tools